Revamp your space as you reopen the doors

There’s a popular trend post-pandemic where small business owners are looking to create the right “vibe” or environment for their businesses, instead of hyper-focusing on the brickwork. This means, your business space should aim to create a social and cultural space, as people start to step in your doors for a long-awaited service. Ask questions like, “How do I want my customer to feel when they walk in?”, and “Do my employees feel safe and healthy working from the store?”

Hybrid office spaces will “become primarily a culture space, providing workers with a social anchor, facilitating connections, enabling learning, and fostering unscripted, innovative collaboration”, says The Harvard Business Review (HBR) Opens in a new window..

If you’re a restaurant owner who’s started seating customers outside on patios, then make sure outdoor space is whether-proof and accessible. If your business runs from a small office, make sure desk spaces are ergonomic with great lighting as your staff and customers come back to the building for the first time in a while. After what seems like forever long of quarantining, your customers are eager to come back to your store whether it’s to listen to the background ambience and music or soak in the social interactions, so make sure you choose the right entertainment and create a great culture.

With the hyper-focus on e-commerce during the pandemic, the focus minimized on the physical spaces so use this as an opportunity to give your space a new look, one that matches your online business. As small businesses cross over to a hybrid model, make sure that your business design including branding — for example the colour theme and logo also crosses over to your physical business space.

When you’re revamping your space and opening your doors, bring back your  “e-commerce theme” from online to on-site, so your customers and staff don’t feel out of place when they visit your premises. Create a budget and check out DIY design ideas from interior decorators to keep spending to the minimum.

The Harvard Business Review (HBR) Opens in a new window. says that physical work places should “braid the digital and physical experience” — this means thinking of both your customers and your staff. “Designing for employee engagement in digital-to-physical space means thinking like a movie director — lights, camera, audio, content,” according to HBR.

Whether you’re running a small retail space, restaurant or another kind of hybrid business, there are some great low cost ways on how you can revamp your space:

Focus on lighting

“Lighting is important in any retail shop, but it's particularly critical in tight quarters according to Entrepeneur.com Opens in a new window.. “Use a combination of track lights, lamps, sconces and picture lights. This mixture will not only ensure that your entire space is well lit, but it also will add flair and variety. ”

Paint your favourite wall

Interior designers say that another cost-effective way to stay on brand and revamp your space, whether its large or small, is to dedicate one of your walls to a bright colour. To accentuate your business space, pick a bold colour from your e-commerce platform and bring it to “real-life” by painting and designing one of your walls to what matches your online store.

Create accessibility

If you advocate accessibility on your business’s social media platforms, then your customers would appreciate it when you bring it to life on your premises. Accessible business spaces are important for your customers, especially post-pandemic as an even more diverse cohort of people flock toward your business after months of lockdowns. The Conference Board of Canada offers more information for small business owners stating that they should ensure to include people with disabilities in their spaces, allow service animals, or visual aids according to their business goals in a Guide for Small Businesses (PDF, 875 KB) Opens in a new window..

Focusing on social responsibility and creating an accessible and welcoming environment creates appreciation of your business among your community. 

Many business owners relocated from large cities to small ones, into larger homes from small apartments and were able to turn their passion projects into full-time businesses running from home.

Shopify Opens in a new window. tells us that working from home offers business owners a lot of freedom and cost reduction, but “you may need to convert space in your home to support the needs of your business which includes holding inventory, creating a home office, or storing equipment. The challenge can be doing this without disrupting your life at home.”

If you’re a business owner who got the knack of efficiently running your bakery from the kitchen or a full-service studio from another part of your home, then make sure you create “work-home” boundaries. It’s great to cut down costs from home, however a separate business space from your personal space can ensure that you don’t face business burnout. And it’s okay to face burnout, especially when running a business from home, so keep a check on your mental health.

Separating your business space whether it’s your basement or garage from your “home space” not only makes your customers or staff feel safe in an intimate environment, but also creates a professional setting. If it’s feasible, opt for running your store from a room that has a separate entrance. The pandemic has also brought a new wave of backyard-business spaces with many business owners either running to Home Depot and building their own business shops in the backyard or hiring companies to do it for them like Frise Design + Build Opens in a new window..

So as you start revamping your business to an all-new on-site or hybrid model, keep your customers and staff in mind as they return to the new premise. Rethinking design with innovation in mind goes a long way to building successful businesses.